El-Rufai's son among latest lawmakers to defect to NDC and ADC in House of Representatives

This follows a recent move by 17 members to the NDC, indicating a growing effort by opposition forces to form a coalition against President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC in the next election cycle. Among those who defected was Muhammed El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who moved from the APC to the NDC. Joshua Obika, representing Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency, also joined the NDC from the APC, marking his third party change in less than two years.

Abdulhakeem Kamilu, representing Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency, moved from the ADC to the NDC, citing an internal leadership crisis. Additionally, Suleiman Richifa and Umar Ajilo, both from Kaduna State, left the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for the ADC, attributing their decision to prolonged party crises. Muhammed El-Rufai's defection is seen as a significant political statement amid growing tensions between his father, Nasir El-Rufai, and the President Bola Tinubu administration, especially after the former governor's failed ministerial nomination in 2023.